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Better than average! Two bowlers win coveted high average marks for league play at Virgin River

The 2017-18 season has ended, but outstanding individual performances and achievements from league play during the season merit recognition. In bowling, the one honor coveted the most by competitive bowlers is the one for high average. Not surprisingly, Sandy Sheppard and Darwin Wimer captured this honor which requires a minimum of 60 games bowled as a regular member of a team.

Sheppard finished with the highest average by a woman at the Virgin River Casino Bowling Center this season with a 186 compiled over 72 games in the Friday afternoon Ladies Trio League. For her, it's a three-peat, as she's finished with the highest average in each of the last three years.

Sheppard has captivated the Mesquite bowling community with a delivery so smooth and mechanics so flawless it's like watching poetry in motion. A high bowling IQ matches her exceptional eye-popping physical game. Look for her scores to rip even higher next season which includes taking out the current house high 279 by a woman. She already has the record for the highest series with a 691.

MaryAnn Davis finished with the next highest average, a 174, in the morning Early Risers League. Trailing Davis was Bev Cormani with a 171 and it's a slam dunk she will finish with a higher average next season. Holly Roth is an outstanding bowler who merits ink for a 186 average over 42 games, and in similar fashion, Vickie Martinsen, another really good bowler averaged 171 over 54 games, and also falling short of the required 60.

Sheppard, Martinsen and Roth chalked up the three highest series scores of 677, 650 and 621, respectively. Loma Morrison (772) and Jane Burgoyne (753) posted the two highest handicap series scores.

Maria Flynn rolled the highest game by a woman this season, a stellar 268 gem. Martinsen trailed Flynn with a 257, followed by Sheppard, Roth and Debbie Hansen with games of 254, 246 and 241, respectively. Flynn (300) and Donna Evans (285) registered the top two high handicap games. Most improved honors went to Burgoyne (18.25), Nancy Hewett (17.28) and Kathy Rotello (16.31).

Meanwhile, Darwin Wimer swept high average honors for the men with a 214 over 81 games in City High Rollers League play. He has already cemented his legacy in Mesquite bowling lore with some of the greatest individual performances and achievements in the history of bowling at the VVCBC. Consider: Wimer has won the high average crown every single season since he began bowling here in the 2009-10 season. He's also the only bowler with a pair of 300s and amazingly, has seven 11 in a row games, along with the highest average ever recorded in Mesquite, a 224 in the 2009-10 season.

In spite of his already jaw-dropping resume of 18 300 games and multiple 800s, his continued commitment of working on improving his game even more both resonates with and inspires this reporter and countless others. Without a doubt, Wimer will continue setting the standard of excellence at the VRCBC.

Next, Ryan Ford, Joe Keim and John Hollaway trailed Wimer as all ended with a 205. Doug Love finished at 204, Mike Yoder a 203 and Jan Kusy a 202.

Jeff Jacobson averaged 216 on 42 games, while Zane Wilson had a 212 over 48 games and Love a 209 over 44 games. Regarding averages, arguably, the two most impressive were those of Ford (205) and Hollaway (205) who bowl only once a week.

Josh Howland, another young bowler with big upside, rolled the highest scratch series this season with a 759 masterpiece. Trailing Howland was Wimer with a 741, Ryan Baeza with a 740 and Love with a 738. Bob Peterson and Howland tied for the highest handicap series, an 831.

Luis Hernandez and Jeff Jacobson have bragging rights to the two highest games of the season with a 299 and 290, respectively. Doug Love had the next high, a 289, followed by Gary Moore with a 288 and Red Powell with a 280. The two highest handicap games were by Rod Averett (313) and Carlos Gonzales(308).